Frank Thelen: Bonn is moving forward. We founded the Digital Hub Region Bonn, of which I am also an investing partner. The initiative “Digitales Bonn” (Digital Bonn) with our Lord Mayor and leading business leaders Tim Hoettges and Frank Strauß unifies the topic of digitalization in Bonn. But Bonn is not Berlin; we are far from that. Berlin is the center for start-ups in Germany, where U.S. investors are heading for new ideas. Smaller hubs such as Bonn, Cologne, Hamburg and Munich need to maintain close ties to Berlin.

What does Bonn offer young companies?

Thelen: Bonn is a positive city. I enjoy living here. With High-Tech Gründerfonds (a public-private partnership firm investing capital in start-ups), we have a real highlight. It’s invested in nearly 500 start-ups. Besides that, we have big partners like Deutsche Telekom, DHL and Postbank as partners for start-ups. We have affordable rent and with the United Nations and worldwide firms, we are really international.

What can Bonn do better?

Thelen: I think there is not so much more Bonn can do directly for the start-up scene. The important issues are determined at federal level or by strong founders, such as Jörg Haas who acts without worrying about political circumstances or decisions. But I would hope that Lord Mayor Sridharan would also take on uncomfortable issues and not always try to please everyone.

Which issues do you mean?

Thelen: For example, international schools: We wanted to build another international school which offered a focus on programming. It was rejected by the city council, because we apparently have enough international schools. This is aggravating, especially since the parents wanted to provide funding. We need such schools so we have people who can do coding right here in our city. The city is reluctant to support international schools because it wants to please everyone. But if you want start-ups, you must promote programming and provide high quality schools for key players.

First of all, one needs a good idea. What does it take?

Thelen: Every good idea needs a founder who lives and breathes it. There are also founders who just want to be founders. This does not work, however. Founders and their teams must also represent their ideas in brutally hard times - because they have a vision. Those who do not have this energy and dynamics will not be able to manage.

How hard is it to start a new company in Germany?

Thelen: We have too many hurdles, because we regulate even the smallest details, for example. I now have so many legal advisors and tax consultants around me because it is such a huge issue. We must radically simplify this so that we can move faster. Friedrich Merz of the CDU has tried this and failed. Christian Linder is now trying to push this urgently needed simplification with the FDP party.

(Text: Sabrina Bauer, Andrea Dyck)